The opposition were hardly world-beaters, with only leg-spinner Amit Mishra offering England’s batsman any real problems as the tourists closed on an imposing 408 for three.However, given the fractious summer which led to Pietersen’s expulsion from the squad and eventual ‘re-integration’ last month, this innings – only brought to an end when he retired on 110 – is positive news for the tourists ahead of the four-Test series, which starts here in Ahmedabad next Thursday.Yet the peace in the dressing room appears to be a fragile one, with the reluctance of England’s management to put Pietersen up for the end-of-day media duties a sign perhaps they still do not fully trust the batsman not to rock the boat in public.If any other player had played an innings such as this they would have been an automatic choice. It appears, though, Pietersen is still a special case.Instead Ian Bell , one of three England players to score a half-century, spoke on behalf of his team-mate. The Warwickshire batsman, who ended the day unbeaten on 57, said: ‘I think Kev enjoyed it, he’ll be very happy going into the series with that kind of innings. But he’ll be a lot happier if he scores a hundred in the first Test.’Captain Alastair Cook and Nick Compton, who put on 166 for the first wicket, also both passed 50.With injury concerns over Steven Finn and Stuart Broad, not to mention the disruption caused by spinner Graeme Swann’s return home to spend time with his ill baby daughter, England’s display with the bat yesterday was some welcome good news.